What the Ad Says
Why are we at Wycliffe passionate about language? Because language is the heart of identity. It connects us and describes our deepest emotions. To hear or read your own tongue is to feel home. You’re lost without it. We’re passionate about Bible translation too, because without God’s Word – you’re lost forever. Wycliffe’s linguistic efforts have saved many languages from extinction, but we do it because we believe it can save people for eternity. That’s good news in anyone’s language. If you think no one should be lost for words, visit www.wycliffe.org.au

The Story behind the Ad

Most of us fail to realise that the word for one of Australia's iconic animals - the Kangaroo - is in fact from the Guugu Yimithirr language (gungurru) first documented by Captain Cook in 1770. But talk to members of indigenous communities and you'll soon realise the critical importance of language in their culture and identity.

Last year,  a 'Melbourne Age Good Weekend' magazine article1 carried the headline 'Lost for Words: The lonely fight to save our dying languages'. The article highlighted the fact that Australian indigenous tongues are dying at an unprecedented rate. It told the story of the last speaker of the Barrow Point Aboriginal language in Australia's top end - Roger Hart.

Before his death in July 2004, Roger spent his time trying desperately to recall words and phrases of his tribal tongue. People would puzzle at him sitting under a tree with his list of words and ask why he bothered. To which he'd reply 'When I speak language, it makes me feel home.' The article also quotes Aboriginal leader Noel Pearson saying 'the survival of language is paramount to our sense of self.' Language loss cuts at the heart of Aboriginal identity.

The article also highlighted the very real difficulties involved in the rescue and recovery of languages, and credits the role of the Christian community such as the Lutheran Missionaries who recorded the Guugu Yimithirr language through translating the Bible and hymns. Pearson says modern educators might like to study the old missionary methods of teaching language and literacy, including the use of Bible translation.

Thankfully, those 'old methods' are alive and well and at work in Aboriginal communities today. A completely new Australian Bible - The 'Kriol Baibul' - will be released and dedicated in 2007. Kriol is spoken by 30,000 people across northern Australia. The translation effort was a joint venture between indigenous communities, SIL International (a Wycliffe partner), CMS, the Bible Society and supporting churches.

However, according to SIL International, a further twenty Australian indigenous languages are still sufficiently active to warrant translation. Many more have become 'dormant' or have so few remaining speakers that translation isn't possible. Unfortunately, the same is true of languages around the world. The 'Age' article went on to quote statistics that suggest that a language expires every fortnight worldwide. Clearly, there is much to be done.

All that adds a note of urgency to the work of Wycliffe and its partners. We're passionate about language because a heart language is the best - and often the only - way to communicate deep truths to a person's soul. We’re passionate about Bible translation too, because we believe that without God’s Word people are lost forever.

Over the last fifty years, Wycliffe’s linguistic efforts have saved many languages from extinction, but we do it because we believe it can save people for eternity. Now that’s good news in anyone’s language.

Your Next Step

We suggest visiting the 'My Wycliffe' page for your next step, or click for our contact details.

1. The Melbourne Age Magazine Good Weekend, September 10 2005. Lost for Words: The Lonely Fight to Save our Dying Languages by John van Tiggelen. Pages 24-30.